A clinical research study on the effects of nutritional supplementation to combat health consequences associated with Cache Valley’s poor air quality has concluded at Utah State University. The Cache Valley AIR Study, a partnership between the Center for Human Nutrition Studies at Utah State University and USANA Health Sciences, a Utah-based global nutritional supplement company, began in November 2011 with 66 participants.

Winters in the Cache Valley get ugly when inverted temperature gradients trap particulate pollution near the ground, where it can irritate lung tissue and cause health problems. Now a Utah supplement maker is exploiting the state’s notorious inversions to test whether its products reduce inflammation and protect pulmonary function.

LOGAN — Those who live along the Wasatch Front know how bad the air quality can get. It seems the tell- tale lung irritation and scratchy throats have become an unpleasant winter tradition in recent years.

LOGAN — Those who live along the Wasatch Front know how bad the air quality can get. It seems the tell-tale lung irritation and scratchy throats have become an unpleasant winter tradition in recent years.

LOGAN — Those who live along the Wasatch Front know how bad the air
quality can get. It seems the tell-tale lung irritation and scratchy
throats have become an unpleasant winter tradition in recent years.

Several
times during the winter months the air
quality along the Wasatch Front
exceeds federal health safety levels,
posing serious health problems
for older residents and people with
sensitive health conditions.

"For
winter, we're kind of unique because of our
inversions," said Bryce
Bird, director of the Utah Division of Air
Quality. "The emissions are
always there, but when we have high
pressure, it kind of puts a lid on
the valley."

The valley's geography plays a key role in trapping polluted air.

Now
a team of researchers at Utah State University
are exploring whether
vitamin supplements can actually help people
resist air pollution.
Michael Lefevre, a professor in USU's College of
Agriculture, is
looking to see if vitamin supplements containing high
amounts of
antioxidants can help people breathe a little easier during
high
pollution days.

Tiny particles, called PM2.5, are the culprit for respiratory irritation during inversions.

"PM2.5
lodges in the lung and causes irritation and
inflammation," said John
Cuomo, executive director of research and
development for USANA. "This
inflammation goes on to induct airway
constriction and reduce lung
function."

The Utah-based nutritional supplement company has given USU a $147,000 research grant for the study.

PM2.5
particles can come from automobiles, power
plants, wood burning and
factories. According to the Utah Division of
Air Quality, PM2.5
particles have been associated with heart attacks,
chronic bronchitis
and asthma.

Lefevre said his team will recruit 70 Cache County
residents between ages 55 and 80. People will be divided into two
groups. One group will be given a USANA multivitamin containing
antioxidants and the second group will be given a placebo. Test subjects
will be monitored over the winter moths, through March.

During
high and low air quality days, subjects will
be called in to test
their lung capacity and indicators of inflammation
through breath and
blood tests. "Our goal is to be able to sample right
after three peak
inversions and then sample at three low levels so we
can measure highs
and lows," Lefevre said.

The theory is that antioxidants, such
as Vitamin C
and Vitamin E, counteract oxidants found in polluted air.
Lefevre said
previous studies on Vitamin C and fish oil (containing
Vitamin E) have
had mixed results on their effectiveness against air
pollution. He is
hoping his study will provide a better understanding
to possible health
benefits.

For better or for worse, Lefevre said Utah is an ideal place for this study, given its unique air quality issues.

Any
Cache Valley resident in general good health,
between the ages of 55
and 80, who are interested in participating can
call 435-797-4226 or
email cvair@usu.edu.